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Description

About the NFCDS Annual Lecture

Using her award-winning humour, Francesca will talk about her own rollercoaster journey to self-acceptance, including the challenges of being labelled 'abnormal' and growing up in a society obsessed with conformity. She will look at the politics behind a culture that breeds fear of difference and propose a 'Wobbly Revolution' in how we see ourselves and each other.

Everyone welcome at this free event

About Timings

Doors open 6.30pm, for refreshments.

Lecture 7.00pm to 8.00pm, questions from 8.00pm, book signing from 8.20pm.

Tea, coffee, soft drinks and wine will be available before and after lecture for a donation. Proceeds will go to charity.

About the Venue and Parking

Woodies is an accessible venue. There is a hearing loop and signers will be available. There are a small number of car parking spaces in front of the building, please only use these if you have a blue badge.

About Francesca

Francesca Martinez is an award-winning wobbly* comedian, speaker and writer who has performed sell-out shows in Edinburgh, the West End, Hollywood, Broadway and Davos. She has toured the world from South Africa to Singapore, Ireland to Australia, and Canada to Malaysia. Her stand up show 'What The **** Is Normal?!' was nominated for Best Show at Leicester Comedy Festival and won the FMN Award at the Edinburgh Festival. Francesca's TV and radio credits include Grange Hill, The News Quiz, The Frank Skinner Show, Extras, Russell Howard’s Good News, The Jonathan Ross Show, Loose Women, This Morning, BBC Breakfast and Live At The Apollo. She is a regular guest on This Week and Newsnight. Her best-seller 'What The **** Is Normal?!' was published in May 2014 by Penguin Random House, was nominated for the Chortle Book Award and won runner up in the Bread and Roses Book Award 2015.

Francesca is a hugely popular motivational and after-dinner speaker, nominated for 'Motivator Of The Year 2005' with Sir Bob Geldof. She won the Public affairs Achiever of the Year Award 2013, and was nominated a Top Ten Game Changer in BBC 4's Woman's Hour Power List 2014. In 2015 Francesca received an honorary doctorate 'for making Britain a fairer and more compassionate society' and a second in 2016 ‘for her contributions to equality, inclusive thought and social commentary’.

* Francesca has mild cerebral palsy but she much prefers the word ‘wobbly’.